We have published a new cookie policy. It explains what cookies are and how we use them on our site. To learn more about cookies and their benefits, please view our cookie policy.
Please be aware that parts of the site will not function correctly if you disable cookies.

By closing this message, you consent to our use of cookies on this device in accordance with our cookie policy unless you have disabled them.

Twitter, Inc. (Twitter) is a global platform for public self-expression and conversation in real time. Twitter is a real-time platform, where any user can create a Tweet and any user can follow other users. Each Tweet is limited to 140 characters of text, but can also contain rich media, including photos, videos and applications. The...

Twitter, Inc. (Twitter) is a global platform for public self-expression and conversation in real time. Twitter is a real-time platform, where any user can create a Tweet and any user can follow other users. Each Tweet is limited to 140 characters of text, but can also contain rich media, including photos, videos and applications. The Company offers Twitter apps for phones, tablets and computers.

Twitter hoping not to make a hash of flotation

Microblogging giant Twitter is set to float in what will be the biggest initial public offering (IPO) since last year's market début of Facebook.

The company will be hoping that it won't be a case of #fail when it floats, like it was for Facebook, the social network leviathan.

Apart from being widely regarded as overpriced, the Facebook IPO also prompted an embarrassing trading snarl-up on the first day of dealings on NASDAQ, the North American Stock Dealers Automated Quotations exchange.

Not that much is known about Twitter's plans to float. The decision was announced, of course, via a tweet on Twitter, and as the site limits missives to 140 characters, there was not much room to fill in too many details.

Goldman Sachs is to be the lead underwriter, according to reports. Some media pundits have interpreted that as a deliberate snub to Morgan Stanley, which masterminded the Facebook flotation.

The market value of Twitter has recently been estimated at just over US$10bn. That's less than one-tenth of the market capitalisation of Facebook which, after the débâcle of its market début and subsequent sell-off, has recovered to hit an all-time high.

The problem for Twitter, as it has been to a certain extent for Facebook, is how to make money out its enormous popularity.

Twitter started in 2006 and only introduced advertising in 2010. As a private company, it is not obliged to publish accounts, but it will have to drum up some numbers ahead of its flotation.

“We’ve confidentially submitted an S-1 to the SEC for a planned IPO,” the tweet announcing the proposed flotation said.

The use of the term “confidentially” suggests that the company is making its filing under the terms of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, which entitles companies with revenue of less than US$1bn in annual revenue to hold back on publishing revenue numbers for a while.

As “start-ups” go, Twitter must be the most famous company in the world that falls into that category.

No investment advice

The Company is a publisher. You understand and agree that no content published on the Site constitutes a recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable or advisable for any specific person. You further understand that none of the information providers or their affiliates will advise you personally concerning the nature, potential, advisability, value or suitability of any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, investment strategy, or other matter.

You understand that the Site may contain opinions from time to time with regard to securities mentioned in other products, including company related products, and that those opinions may be different from those obtained by using another product related to the Company. You understand and agree that contributors may write about securities in which they or their firms have a position, and that they may trade such securities for their own account. In cases where the position is held at the time of publication and such position is known to the Company, appropriate disclosure is made. However, you understand and agree that at the time of any transaction that you make, one or more contributors may have a position in the securities written about. You understand that price and other data is supplied by sources believed to be reliable, that the calculations herein are made using such data, and that neither such data nor such calculations are guaranteed by these sources, the Company, the information providers or any other person or entity, and may not be complete or accurate.

From time to time, reference may be made in our marketing materials to prior articles and opinions we have published. These references may be selective, may reference only a portion of an article or recommendation, and are likely not to be current. As markets change continuously, previously published information and data may not be current and should not be relied upon.

Proactive Investor UK Limited, trading as “Proactiveinvestors United Kingdom”, is Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.Registered in England with Company Registration number 05639690. Group VAT registration number 872070825 FCA Registration number 559082. You can contact us here.